Devotions Today from the Psalms

Psalm 11 - NKJV
 1 In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5 The LORD tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

God Tests the Righteous

Again we see in these intial Psalms as David crying out to God in the time of trial. He is asking tough questions in his heart without losing his faith. It is OK to question, ask, complain to the Lord, but beware of accusing God or charging Him of misconduct!

One of the most dangerous sins is to impute to God the character of Satan. That is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Why is it such a serious sin? Because it calls God a liar. God is not unrighteous. "God the judge of the earth will do what is right." (Genesis When Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gommorrah) The testimony of Job is appropriate here. He questioned God too in an effort to figure out what had gone so very wrong that he should be so painfully tried:

"In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." - Job 1:22

Imprecatory Psalms
Many of the Psalms contain prayers for God's judgment on the psalmist's enemies.

  • Psalm 35:5 - May they be like chaff before the wind.
  • Psalm 55:15 - Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave.
  • Psalm 58:6 - O God, break the teeth in their mouths.
  • Psalm 69:28 - May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
  • Psalm 109:9 - May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
  • Psalm 137:9 - How blessed will be the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

See also:
7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 79, 109, 137 and 139

There is a difference here in the Psalms.
David and the other Psalmist ask for God's vengence. Sometimes they say it in anger, even fury. But they are not taking vengence. David, in particular, refused to lift his hand against Saul when it appeared he had every right todo so for the injustices of Saul toward David.

  • 1 Samuel 24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
  • 1 Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?
  • 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
  • 1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

    Vengenence belongs to the Lord.
    He will repay. He will make the wrongs right. This is in agreement with the New Testament directive of Jesus: "I say unto you love your enemies and pray for them that dispitefully use you and persecute you."

    • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
    • Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
    • John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
    • Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

    As always, David, begins and ends the Psalm in victory.
    May we follow in his footsteps. Tell the Lord the trouble. Complain to God (not other people) about the matter. Declare your case before the Judge, as Job said he would do if he could. So in the morning and in the evening, at the beginning your prayer, and at the end your prayer give God praise, put your trust in him. Affirm His righteousness and sin not. His eyelids see, His ear hears, His hand will act in His time.



    New King James Bible, Bible Gateway Index

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